The Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, Archbishop Sahak Mashalian has strongly condemned the anti-Armenian statements by the mayor of Bolu, a member of the Republican People's Party (CHP), Tanju Ozcan, reports the Armenian Agos newspaper published in Turkey.

On April 5, Ozcan, addressing the leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Abdullah Ocalan, wrote as follows on X: "I wish that your Armenian-born father [he used the word "Armenian" as a derogatory term. ed.) had not allowed you to be born, Ocalan. May God grant that this be your last birthday, traitor..." But this post was later deleted.

“The [Turkish] Armenian community, which has lived in these territories for centuries, is an indigenous and inseparable part of this country. The ancient people, which throughout history has made an important cultural, economic, and social contribution to the development of this country, continue to exist today,” the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople reminded.

Mashalian noted that legitimizing hate speech and ignoring discriminatory expressions are unacceptable.

Also, he called on the Turkish authorities and society to use more conscientious expressions.